Somalia

Internet country code

.so

Internet hosts

0 (2009) country comparison to the world: 232

Internet users

102,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 154

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 11 (also 1 station each in Puntland and Somaliland), shortwave 1 (in Mogadishu) (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: the public telecommunications system was almost completely destroyed or dismantled during the civil war; private companies offer limited local fixed-line service and private wireless companies offer service in most major cities while charging the lowest international rates on the continent domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers international: country code - 252; international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite (2001)

Telephones - main lines in use

100,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 144

Telephones - mobile cellular

627,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 150

Television broadcast stations

4 (2 in Mogadishu and 2 in Hargeisa) (2001)

Agriculture - products

bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Debt - external

$3 billion (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Economy - overview

Despite the lack of effective national governance, Somalia has maintained a healthy informal economy, largely based on livestock, remittance/money transfer companies, and telecommunications. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-pastoralists, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has largely been looted and sold as scrap metal. Somalia's service sector also has grown. Telecommunication firms provide wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest international call rates on the continent. In the absence of a formal banking sector, money transfer/remittance services have sprouted throughout the country, handling roughly $2 billion in remittances annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate and are supported with private-security militias. Somalia's arrears to the IMF continued to grow in 2008. Statistics on Somalia's GDP, growth, per capita income, and inflation should be viewed skeptically.

Electricity - consumption

260.4 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

280 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Exchange rates

Somali shillings (SOS) per US dollar - NA (2007-08), 1,438.3 (2006) official rate; the unofficial black market rate was about 23,000 shillings per dollar as of February 2007 note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling

Exports

$300 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 174

Exports - commodities

livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal

Exports - partners

UAE 56.2%, Yemen 21%, Saudi Arabia 3.6% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.6 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.524 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $5.387 billion (2007 est.) $5.252 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 65% industry: 10% services: 25% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 225 $600 (2007 est.) $600 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 2.6% (2007 est.) 2.6% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$798 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 177

Imports - commodities

manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, qat

Imports - partners

Djibouti 29.2%, India 11.9%, Kenya 7.6%, US 6%, Oman 5.6%, UAE 5.5%, Yemen 4.7% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA% note: businesses print their own money, so inflation rates cannot be easily determined

Labor force

3.447 million (few skilled laborers) (2007) country comparison to the world: 96

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 71% industry and services: 29% (1975)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Oil - consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Oil - exports

1,475 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Oil - imports

6,387 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 637,657 sq km country comparison to the world: 43 land: 627,337 sq km water: 10,320 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Climate

principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons

Coastline

3,025 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m

Environment - current issues

famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 3.29 cu km/yr (0%/0%/100%) per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

10 00 N, 49 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

Irrigated land

2,000 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 2,340 km border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km

Land use

arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.04% other: 98.32% (2005)

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural hazards

recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season

Natural resources

uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Total renewable water resources

15.7 cu km (1997)

Administrative divisions

18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

Capital

name: Mogadishu geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 22 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979 note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia local long form: Jamhuuriyada Demuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed local short form: Soomaaliya former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157

Diplomatic representation in the US

Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991); note - the Transitional Federal Government is represented in the United States through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Executive branch

chief of state: Transitional Federal President Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed (since 31 January 2009); note - a transitional governing entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the TFIs relocated to Somalia in June 2004 head of government: Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali SHARMARKE (since 13 February 2009) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the Transitional Federal Assembly election results: Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed was elected president by the expanded Transitional Federal Assembly in Djibouti

Flag description

light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue field influenced by the flag of the UN

Government - note

although an interim government was created in 2004, other regional and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various regions of the country, including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia and the semi-autonomous State of Puntland in northeastern Somalia

Government type

no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government

Independence

1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial branch

following the breakdown of the central government, most regions have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular, traditional Somali customary law, or Sharia (Islamic) law with a provision for appeal of all sentences

Legal system

no national system; a mixture of English common law, Italian law, Islamic Sharia, and Somali customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly note: unicameral Transitional Federal Assembly (TFA) (550 seats; 475 members appointed according to the 4.5 clan formula, with the remaining 75 seats reserved for civil society and business persons)

National holiday

Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: numerous clan and sub-clan factions exist both in support and in opposition to the transitional government

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule that managed to impose a degree of stability in the country for a couple of decades. After the regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a constitutional democracy, including holding municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari, Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring self-declared autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998 but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides toward reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. A two-year peace process, led by the Government of Kenya under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and the formation of an interim government, known as the Somalia Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs). The TFIs included a 275-member parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal Assembly (TFA). President YUSUF resigned late in 2008 while United Nations-sponsored talks between the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) were underway in Djibouti. In January 2009, following the creation of a TFG-ARS unity government, Ethiopian military forces, which had entered Somalia in December 2006 to support the TFG in the face of advances by the opposition Council of Islamic Courts (CIC), withdrew from the country. The TFA was increased to 550 seats with the addition of 275 ARS members of parliament. The expanded parliament elected Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed, the former CIC and ARS chairman as president on 31 January 2009, in Djibouti. Subsequently, President SHARIF appointed Omar Abdirashid ali SHARMARKE, son of a former president of Somalia, as prime minister on 13 February 2009. The TFIs are based on the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), which outlines a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new Somali constitution and a transition to a representative government following national elections. However, in January 2009 the TFA amended the TFC to extend TFG's mandate until 2011. While its institutions remain weak, the TFG continues to reach out to Somali stakeholders and work with international donors to help build the governance capacity of the TFIs and work toward national elections in 2011.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,181,050 females age 16-49: 2,125,558 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,301,026 females age 16-49: 1,351,649 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 93,763 female: 93,738 (2009 est.)

Military branches

no national-level armed forces (2008)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Age structure

0-14 years: 45% (male 2,215,331/female 2,204,503) 15-64 years: 52.6% (male 2,588,356/female 2,579,737) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 101,764/female 142,326) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

43.7 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Death rate

15.55 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,600 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

24,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Infant mortality rate

total: 109.19 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 6 male: 118.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 99.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 49.63 years country comparison to the world: 208 male: 47.78 years female: 51.53 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.8% male: 49.7% female: 25.8% (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Rift Valley fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Median age

total: 17.5 years male: 17.4 years female: 17.6 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Population

9,832,017 country comparison to the world: 83 note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare (July 2009 est.)

Population growth rate

2.815% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Religions

Sunni Muslim

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.52 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Urbanization

urban population: 37% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera to landlocked Ethiopia and have established commercial ties with other regional states; "Puntland" and "Somaliland" "governments" seek international support in their secessionist aspirations and overlapping border claims; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading south across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 1.1 million (civil war since 1988, clan-based competition for resources) (2007)

Airports

59 (2009) country comparison to the world: 80

Airports - with paved runways

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 52 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 6 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 1 country comparison to the world: 157 by type: cargo 1 foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Berbera, Kismaayo

Roadways

total: 22,100 km country comparison to the world: 106 paved: 2,608 km unpaved: 19,492 km (2000)

Transportation - note

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers, and cargo are held for ransom; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators have reduced the piracy incidents; in response local pirates shifted operations farther south along the east coast of Somalia and eastward along the coast of Oman